LOW opening allocations for the 2016/17 season have left irrigators frustrated at a system that saw millions of litres of water “wasted”.
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General security irrigators in the Murrumbidgee Valley will get 20 per cent allocation and high security will get 95 per cent.
Under 12-year-old water rules, rainfall flows must be released from Burrinjuck and Blowering dams to the environment.
In June there was a chorus of outrage across the Riverina when a huge amount of water was released during a week of heavy rain.
As a result Burrinjuck Dam was 58.4 per cent full on June 30, but many believe it could have been higher. One of those was Leeton Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Graham Heffer.
“Low opening allocations for the 2016/17 season will restrict production in our region and permanently damage our economy,” he said. “It’s time our politicians stood up and stopped this rubbish.
‘The water leasing and trading market will help irrigators, but I am fearsome growers may still be priced out of the market if demand for water soared.
The minimum opening water allocation will hurt many wine growers in the region who were yet to diversify their business.
“A lot of wine grape farmers sold their water during the drought and don’t have any excess and now there’s a lot of alternative crop growers here.
“These alternative crops are very thirsty, so the price of water on the trading market will be inflated and the grape growers won’t be able to afford it.”
Murrami farmer Debbie Buller said politicians, industry groups and farmers had all said translucent flows were “crazy, outdated and unnecessary”.
“(Some of) these elected representatives hold important cabinet and ministerial positions and claim we are lucky that they do, but if we all agree this is crazy and it’s negatively affecting our communities for zero environmental benefits, why is it still happening?” Mrs Buller asked.
Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli said the rules were “stupid”.
“It would be front page of both Sydney newspapers if Warragamba Dam was only half full and inflows were flowing straight out and rightly so,” he said.
“Legal advice to the NSW government has confirmed that the rules cannot be changed by the NSW minister. Since the Commonwealth took over water legislation with the Water Act only they can change these stupid rules and they must do it immediately.”
It’s time our politicians stood up and stopped this rubbish.
- Graham Heffer